Cable jointers ascend Snowdon to raise £2K for children’s hospital

Cable jointers ascend Snowdon to raise £2K for children’s hospital
31 July 2024Claudia Lee

Nine cable jointers and craft attendants from UK Power Networks ascended Mount Snowdon in a bid to raise funds for a children’s hospital.

The group raised £2,075 for Evelina London Children’s Charity which supports the vital services Evelina London Children’s Hospital in Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, provides to children.

Joe Read, 37, from Epsom, guided his colleagues and friends to the peak of Wales’ highest mountain, as the company gave all nine employees two paid days off to do community work.

Evelina London is currently caring for Mr Read’s three-year-old son, Jacob, who suffers from an incurable kidney condition.

Jacob’s condition is called Cystinuria, which causes recurring kidney stones.

Mr Read said: “Jacob has been to Evelina London for five operations now.

“The staff have been fantastic every time and made every worrying visit more bearable. It can’t be easy dealing with worried parents and scared and sick children, but they are always sympathetic and approachable and always give Jacob excellent care.”

Colleagues, Matt Cheesman, Adam Cheesman, Billy Minter, James Portlock, Chris Stiling, Tom, Gallyer-Randall, Harry Lloyd, Ben Thompson all took part in the adventure.

Mr Read said: “We hired a minibus to get up to Wales for the weekend and spirits were really high with anticipation and excitement.

“I think we had underestimated how difficult the hike was going to be, we were not prepared at all for using our hands to climb up parts of the route. But we all really enjoyed it.”

UK Power Networks’ donated £500 to the group’s fundraiser through its matched funding scheme for employees taking on charitable ventures.

Laura Savory, interim director of fundraising at Evelina London Children’s Charity said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Jacob and the UK Power Networks team for your incredible fundraising.

“It is thanks to determined fundraisers like yourselves that we are able to support the amazing care at Evelina London.”

Pictured top: Fundraisers at the top of Mount Snowdon (Picture: Joe Read)